shepard



PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

L. A. SHEPARD.

BRAKE BEAM PULGRUM..

APPLIOATION FILED 0013, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS A. SHEPARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CORNELIUS VANDERBILT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BRAKE-BEAM FULCRUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 749,107, dated January 5, 1904. Application filed October 3. 1902. Serial No- 125.746. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS A. SHEPARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake-Beam Fulcrums, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved form of fulcrum for brake-beams in which the main body of the beam is a flanged beam of rolled, pressed, or cast metal. In making a beam of this type it is usual to rivet or otherwise firmly secure the brake-heads upon the ends of the beam, and it is extremely desirable in order that the fulcrum may be readily replaced at any time that it should be capable of being secured to or removed from the beam without necessitating the removal of one of the heads.

My invention is also capable of use as a fulcrum for flanged beams other than brakebeamssuch, for example, as is disclosed in my application,SerialNo. 147,207,filed March 11, 1903, for door-operating mechanism.

My invention has for its object the provision of such a fulcrum.

In the drawings which accompany this application, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are side views of the separate pieces of which my improved fulcrum is composed. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are end views of the same. Figs. 7 and 8 are side and end views, respectively, of the fulcrum in its assembled form. Fig. 9 is a detail view showing a rivet which may be used as a substitute for the bosses 8.

The fulcrum constituting my invention may be made from either cast or pressed metal. The fulcrum is composed of threepieces or members 1, 2, and 2 The members 1 and 2 each carry a jaw 3, which together form the fork to which the brake or other lever may be secured. The end of the piece 1 0pposite the jaw 3 terminates in a flattened end portion 4, which is adapted to be clamped by a rivet or other suitable means against one face of the Web'of a flanged beam, such as an I-beain. The intermediate or body portion of the member 1 is so shaped as to provide a deep groove or recess 6, which receives one flange of'the I-beam. This member is relative positions with respect to-the jaws,

and when the members 1 and 2 are brought together, with the shoulders 7 in engagement with each other, the bosses 8 abut against each other and may be secured in this position by a rivet or bolt 9, passing through their centers, as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

It is obvious that the bosses 8 may be dispensed with, if desired, by substituting therefor a rivet 14:, Fig. 9, rigid with one of the jaws and having a shoulder-.15 for engaging the opposite jaw and a shank- 16, passing through an aperture in said jaw. The jaws 3 are provided with pin-holes 10 for the purpose of securing the brake or other lever thereto.

The member 2 is provided with a flattened portion 4, which is adapted to be clampedagainst the face of the web of the flanged beam opposite the securing-flange 4 of the member 1. The member 2 is also provided with a locking-lip 11, which overlaps the flat end portion 12 of the block 2 and holds it in engagement with the flat outer surface of the flange of the beam when the fulcrum is assembled. This lip is preferably notched at 13 to receive the jaw 3 of the member 2*.

The members 2 and 2 when in position form a recess 6 to receive one flange of the I-beam, the other flange being received by the recess 6, previously described.

The fulcrum herein described maybe very readily applied to or disengaged from a flanged beam without requiring the removal of one of the brake-headsor other device which may be secured to its ends. Its members may be clamped into position by a single rivet on each side of the flange of the beam, and when so clamped it forms a very rigid and serviceable fulcrum for the attachment of the brake or other lever.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A fulcrum for flanged beams, comprising a recessed member, carrying a fork-forming jaw, and a fiat securing-flange, a flat member carrying a fork-forming jaw projecting therefrom at right angles, and a recessed member carrying a securing-flange, substantially as described.

2. A fulcrum for flanged beams, comprising a recessed member, carrying a fork-forming jaw, and a flat securing-flange, a flat member carrying a fork'forming jaw projecting therefrom at right angles, and a recessed member carrying a securing-flange; said first two members being provided with shoulders adapted to be clamped in engagement with each other, substantially as described.

3. A fulcrum for flanged beams, comprising a recessed member, carrying a fork-forming jaw, and 'a flat securingflange, a flat member carrying a fork-forming jaw projecting therefrom at right angles, and a recessed member carrying a securing-flange; one or both of said fork-forming jaws being provided with a raised portion which is adapted to abut against the other jaw or raised portion, substantially as described.

4. In a fulcrum for flanged brake-beams, a block 1, having a flat end portion 4 for engagement with the web of the beam, an intermediate recessed portion to receive one flange of the beam, and a jaw 3, said jaw having a raised piece 8, in combination with a block 2*, having a jaw 3, with a raised piece 8, adapted to abut against the first raised piece, and a flat end portion 12 at right angles to the jaw 3, and a locking-block 2, havinga flat portion 4 to engage the web of the beam, and a grooved portion 11 to receive a flange of the beam and the edge of the portion 12 of the block 2", substantially as described.

5. A fulcrum for flanged brake-beams comprising a block 1, adapted to engage one face of the web of the beam and one of its flanges, a block 2 adapted to abut against the flat outer surface of the flanges of the beam and against the block 1, and a block 2 adapted to engage the other face of the web of the beam and its other flange, together with a portion of the block 2, substantialiy as described.

6. In a fulcrum for flanged brake-beams, a block 1, having a recessed portion to receive one flange of the beam, one wall of said portion being provided with a sloping shoulder, in combination with a block 2, having a portion 12, adapted to abut against the flange of the beam, and provided with a sloping shoulder adapted to abut against the first shoulder, substantially as described.

7. In a fulcrum for flanged brake-beams, a block 2, having a jaw 3, a portion 12 at right angles thereto, adapted to abut against the flange of the beam, and a locking-block 2", having a portion 4 adapted to engage the web of the beam, and a recessed portion to receive the flange and one edge of the portion 12, substantially as described.

8. In a fulcrum for flanged brake-beams, a block 2, having a jaw 3, a portion 12 at right angles thereto, adapted to abut against the flange of the beam, and a locking-block 2", having a recessed portion to receive the flange and one edge of the portion 12, one wall 11 of said recessed portion being notched to receive the portion 12 of the block 2, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of October, 1902.

LOUIS A. SHEPARD.

In presence of--- EDWIN C. FARLOW, WILLIAM K. GUCHINDON. 

